DevOps Engineer Role Is Fundamental, Focal, Fashionable, and Favorable – So, This Is Why F-Words Matter!

This time on Coding as Creating, I’m going to elaborate on the DevOps engineer role in a software development team. Why? Because no one–including the glorious Wikipedia– has any clear idea about this topic!

We, simply, didn’t invent the term recently. But common; even Wikipedia has no proper description for the DevOps engineer role. So, stop being a know-it-all and deal with it. Hey, you can’t describe the position of such a person in one or two sentences. Anyhow, read on to see for yourself–if you insist.

You May Hire an Engineer but End up Having an Architect

First things first, these people are
a jack of all trades. And this is one of the reasons why it’s hard to describe
their position. Indeed, you may need to call them for the coding phase one day
and solution design the other.

So, in short, you should NOT get surprised when an engineer turns into an architect!

Architects are imperative parts of developmental projects—and no one can knock that. But when a DevOps engineer comes into contact with the architectural processes, things may significantly change.

Not only are they capable of providing infrastructural solutions but also helping developers to have better solutions in terms of performance, deployment, etc.

When the DevOps Engineer
Role Becomes a D-Word

I know that the term ‘designer’ is a D-word. But it’s time to face a whole other aspect of these terms. So, fasten your belt and let me introduce you to a not-a-mega-fact: “these whizzes are the developers you need—sometimes.”

In brief, they are a must-have when it comes to a Software Development Team. Here’s why: “you can pick up the phone, fire the not-so-active developer. And, still, have a developer in the team.”

An engineer in this field can
replace the position. But don’t get me wrong; they don’t ‘have to.’

Therefore, the idea stated above is not that such a person is already a developer. By contrast, it’s that you may expect them to be a versatile part of the team.

Still, the whole suggestion depends on the individual’s skills such as the codes they’re able to render—are they an infrastructural coder? Or one who’s more of an automation catalyst?

“Engineers Are the
Computer Operators for Operation Rescue National”

When the project is on its
support-need stage, these folks evolve into operators. So, they start engaging
in various operational aspects of the developmental process. And this would be
a relieving matter for the team—with no doubt.

The title, therefore, could also be
something like: “DevOps experts are the project operators for Operation Improve
the Agile.” That’s because they are an inseparable part of the procedure. And
the future of the developments depends on their all-in-one type of skill tree.

No matter it’s an operational task or the opposite, they can be there for you. DevOps are more like a backup team who are always on the battlefield and ready to lend a helping hand when the project is on its last leg.

Marketing Means More than
a Mortal Matter

Selling new ideas has always been a not-so-easy task. But things would get even harder when you have to sell them to the decision-makers! Think of convincing the CEO of the importance of shifting to new methods, or getting new equipment and/or technologies.

Does it sound like a hard row to hoe? Well, you’ve all the right to call it so. But not so long as there’s a DevOps specialist on your side.

Such an expert would do their best
to set the ball rolling for any kind of necessary changes. They would employ
various tools—plus, techniques—to achieve those goals (no matter what).

By the way, bear in mind that the
diversity of their skills allows them to lend a helping hand with marketing as
well. So, it wouldn’t be a non-sense thought to ask them to join the marketing
phases of the project.

Sometimes It’s a DevOps
Engineer Role to Claim “Know What You Own, and Know Why You Own It”

There are moments where you need some fundraising as well as a solution to cut back on the budget. And in case you’re not Carlos Slim’s child, this would become an ordinary need—soon.

So, the big question is who would acknowledge the responsibility to handle this part? Are you going to call Charles Schwab asking for some financial advice? well, my sweet friend, that would cost a fortune.

What I suggest, instead, is to
redefine the role of an Agile specialist in the team.

Such an expert would offer some
cost-effective ways to get things done. And this would allow you to lessen the
expenses by far.

Plus, they can, on some occasions,
become a financial adviser too. Therefore, you’d be able to plan a real-world
route for spending the budget.

On a Final Note

In conclusion, it’s not an easy-peasy thing to define
these experts’ role. But the point is not to emphasize the diversity of their
position. Inversely, the main idea of what you’ve just read is to bold the
importance of their presence.

However, there’s a downside to this
matter as well. Indeed, finding such a doyen with all those capabilities is a
tricky charge. You know what they say, “no pain, no gain.”

So, tolerate the pain of finding a
jack of all trades. And, then, laze around while such a person is winning all
the games for you!

He’s the author and founder at Coding as Creating who’s also a DevOps engineer at a Fin-Tech company. Alireza loves sharing his knowledge and experiences with others as he believes it equals earning. With his 20+ years of real-world software development experience, we believe that Alireza, our go-to, can make a huge impact on the industry!

Check Also

About Alireza Chegini

He’s the author and founder at Coding as Creating who’s also a DevOps engineer at a Fin-Tech company. Alireza loves sharing his knowledge and experiences with others as he believes it equals earning. With his 20+ years of real-world software development experience, we believe that Alireza, our go-to, can make a huge impact on the industry!